Lynn C. Woolsey: “if we want to reduce the threat of terrorism against the United States, we must rust reduce America's dependence on…”

“if we want to reduce the threat of terrorism against the United States, we must rust reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. Nothing threatens our country and our security more than our reliance on oil from repressive Middle East regimes like Saudi Arabia and Libya. Of the 21 million barrels of oil consumed by the U.S. each day, 14 million are imported from other countries. Most are imported from the Middle East, where as we know democracy is not pervasive. This lack of democracy allow the authoritarian leaders of many Middle East countries to pocket billions of dollars each year from American oil purchases. So while the leaders of these countries are becoming increasingly wealthy, the rest of their people fail to benefit from the oil proceeds. Sadly, this economic disparity allows the powerful elite to tighten their hold over their people. This repressive power structure allows the conditions which give rise to terrorism, resource scarcity, extreme poverty, and lack of education to run rampant. It is quite clear that we need to decrease our dependance on foreign oil in order to keep America safe from the threat of terrorism. But there is a right way, and there is a wrong way to accomplish this goal. Many Members of Congress have suggested, today in fact, that we can simply drill for gas and oil off the coasts of our shores, or in places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to solve our energy crisis.…”